New Delhi, Sept. 27 -- Saltaire, a contemporary Irish folk and traditional music trio from Dublin, brought the sounds and melodies of Ireland to Kolkata through a series of musical engagements as part of Ireland's cultural programme in India.
The musical trio brings together three distinctive musical styles: Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz on vocals and cello, Ian Kinsella on guitar and Eoghan Padraig Ó Ceannabhain on flute and vocals. Drawing from Irish and American folk traditions, they create a rich, atmospheric sound and a convergence of traditional tunes, original songwriting and modern arrangements.
As part of their Kolkata programme, Saltaire led a special two-day workshop with students at Newtown School, introducing them to Irish melodies, rhythms and instruments while creating opportunities to explore Irish and Bengali folk music together. The workshop culminated in a special concert, where students joined the band on stage to perform music they had learnt together, including the traditional Irish song 'Óró, Se do Bheatha 'Bhaile'.
"This is the first time we've had a workshop like this in Calcutta. Saltaire will travel to Arunachal Pradesh today to participate in the Ziro festival. We hope to see final political sign-off on the EU-India FTA during our Presidency and before the end of the year," said DCM.
Saltaire also collaborated with the Debojyoti Mishra Ensemble, presented by 'Banglanatakdotcom', for a special Irish Indian musical fusion concert. The performance fused Irish traditional music and Indian musical expressions, highlighting the possibilities of creative exchange between the two musical traditions.
Supported by Culture Ireland and part of celebrations marking Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, Saltaire's Kolkata engagements highlight the shared musical traditions, creativity and cultural connections between Ireland and India.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.